Under Her Shadow – Episode 9

Under Her Shadow – Episode 9

© Bunmi B. Gabriel

#AJ ‘s POV

I hate feeling weak and vulnerable, it’s sickening and extremely pathetic, once I open up to someone in tears, I automatically become weak when it concern that person, that’s the reason I don’t cry, I don’t want anyone to know how deeply depress I am but unfortunately the guy I like have and he ditched me. I get it, he planned on using me but after I told him he felt guilty and ran away

I will survive

I will overcome it

Aliyahna is always okay

I’m not okay, I wanna cry all day in the safety of my bedroom, I wanna not be able to smile, what’s the point

Cynthia dragged me to the gala, like literally, she came with a hand cuff, I couldn’t talk to anyone, I didn’t even dress like myself, I wore what she gave to me and since her sense of fashion is mostly cooperate and jeans, it wasn’t much of a dress but who cares

Who’s staring at me? Everyone is but those eyes, I looked up sharply and my eyes met his, those bright blues, my eyes watered again, I forgot he would be here and I have to talk to him, a lady tugged his arm, so he has a new one now

Ouch! I looked away and my eyes had to fall on the man I haven’t seen for years, my selfish father, he was with her, the woman that broke me, Katherine Roe, they were walking to me so I signal to Cynthia who came running

‘Good evening Miss Aliyahna right?’ Katherine asked smilingly

‘What do you want?’ I asked coldly, she looked shock, oh yea they can’t remember me, idiots! Who else have such hair and eyes like mine, he was looking at me thoughtfully. ‘Why are you staring at me like that?’

‘I’m sorry, your hair and eyes do ring a bell, a loud one’ he said hazily

‘So that is still stored in your brain huh? Why are you still with this hag? Her money? Geez Hank you are pathetic’ I scoffed pouring my anger on him

‘Amethyst?’

‘No Jamethyst’ I said scoffingly. ‘Don’t talk to me, stay away’ I said angrily, Cynthia held my hand and pulled me away. ‘Why do they need me?’

‘Her company is going bankrupt’ she replied plainly. ‘I made sure of that’ she added in a mutter, I halted

‘You did what?’

‘I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but tell your dad after you told me that he’s your father’ she said soberly

‘I never told you’ I snapped

‘But you showed me Idris picture and said he’s your blood brother so I connected the dots’ she said sheepishly. ‘And just so you’ll know, Idris is over there sitting sadly’ she pointed at a man looking at his hands sadly, Idris?

Idris!

‘Idris!!!’ I shrieked excitedly not minding where I was, I held the big ball gown up and ran carefully to him so I won’t fall, I’ll ki*ll Cynthia later. He looked up and tilted his head. ‘Idris it’s me, little fish’ I said my nickname, he gasped and stood up

‘Oh my God! My baby girl, come to papa’ he said fatherly spreading his hands for a hug which I happily accepted. ‘My darling, I missed you so much, look at you, all grown up and dressed up like a…’ He released me and stared at my dress. ‘Is this a fairytale ball?’ He asked confusedly, I chuckled

‘Yes, I’m here to find my prince and I found him right here’ I said babyishly and hugged him back, he laughed

‘But my princess is here’ already’

‘Your queen’ a voice corrected, I stood on the tip of my weird shoes (this dress must be Cynthia’s) and looked over his shoulder, Benedictine!

‘Sister in-law!’ I squealed, before she could say jack, I was already hugging her, she laughed

‘Now I know why Idris say you are a hugger’ I giggled. ‘Kenzie would have been happy to see you, what am I saying? She would scream down the building’ she said chuckling, I laughed, I’ve visited them thrice before

‘You didn’t tell me you were in NYC’ I said accusingly turning back to Idris, he smiled

‘I wanted it to be a surprise’ he said with a fake smile, I hugged him again

‘What’s wrong Idris? Please tell me’ I said pleadingly, he sighed

‘You know I left dad and started my own company but he got angry and poisoned the minds of all my investors, now I am left with two, I hoped coming here would help but so far so bad’ I released myself from his hold and frowned at him

‘Your sister is the beloved daughter of Chris Jefferson, the richest man in New Orleans and you couldn’t ask me?’

‘I didn’t want to bother you’ he said lowly, I rolled my eyes

‘Cynthia, mark my brother’s as the lucky winner of dad’s new amusement park construction in New Jersey and Chicago, every single bonus to be added and quarter pay should be signed out first, I’ll handle dad myself’ I said briskly, she nodded and jotted it down. ‘Benedictine, can I steal him for a long time? I have people who will be happy to see him’

‘Sure, I’ll wait here, thank you so much Lia’ she said gratefully, I nodded and pulled him with him to the first person, Lady Nannette

‘Nannette darling’ I chirped

‘My baby doll’ she hugged me cheerfully. ‘I thought you would never speak to me’

‘I’m sorry, was upset but I’m fine now’

‘And who is this interesting young man beside you?’ She asked wiggling her eyebrows, I laughed and Idris chuckled

‘Nannette, he’s my brother, the one I always talk about’ I said sheepishly

‘Oh! The Idris! Nice to finally meet the man who’s name never leaves her lips, honey, please come over here’ she called to her husband, one of the richest old man in New York. The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up, I’m really close to them, they take me like their daughter since their only one died at eight, even their rich sons love me, don’t know if they really do tho

‘Shriek’ he called happily, I walked into his arms, he’s so huge. ‘Daddy have missed you’

‘Daughter missed you too’ I laughed. ‘So who’s he? My in-law?’

‘Idris, the overheard Idris’ Nannette said grinningly, he grinned too

‘Finally! We meet’ he boomed and moved to him, he engulfed him in a hug, I laughed.

‘Dad my brother needs help’ I whispered, he turned to me I gave him puppy eyes

‘Okay, anything for you hun, now let’s talk business’ he pulled poor Idris away, I turned to her

‘Can my other brothers help too?’ I asked childishly, she nodded and kissed my cheeks

‘Anything for you’ she smiled

‘Ma’am?’ Cynthia called softly, I nodded

‘Mr Alexandre is here’ she reminded, I sighed sadly

‘Uh oh! Somebody sighed’ Nannette said playfully, I giggled

‘Bye mom, I’ll come see you guys next week’ I said sweetly walking away. ‘Oh and happy anniversary in advance’ I shouted

‘Oh!’ She gasped dramatically and placed her hands on her chest. ‘You remembered’ she said playfully, I laughed and turned, I headed to the restroom instead, I need to recollect myself

I walked into the restroom to the first mirror, I washed my face and stared down at myself, I frowned, I can’t go to him like this, it’s so heavy. I brought out my phone from my purse and called Cynthia

‘Ma’am?’

‘Go to my car, the trunk, get me the bag there, I’m in the restroom’

‘Okay’ she smiled, the makeup was so weird, was she raised in a farm?, I washed off the makeup and loosen my hair, good thing I always carry back up dresses in my car trunk

‘Okay Aliyahna, you can do this, just dress up, go to him and talk business, just business, you don’t know him, you don’t like him, you are not friends’ I chanted, I sighed when Cynthia walked in with the bag. ‘Lock the door’ she locked it, I opened the bag and searched, there was a black jean trouser, black shirt, red jacket and red vans in there, nope!

Next was a sea green straight skirt and black button down shirt, still nope, I rummage through it for three minutes before I found the only manageable one, a little black dress with diamonds around it neck and hem, it was simple but beautiful and a black triple strap block clear Lucite heels, it’s all I’ve got. I checked the other side for jewel and picked out a black dangling earrings with diamond stones and diamond wristwatch

‘Is that all?’ Cynthia asked straining her neck, I nodded. ‘No brackets?’

‘I don’t need them, not in the mood’ I said calmly. ‘Got any makeup with you?’ I asked hopefully, she shook her head negatively. ‘Can you go ask Benedictine?’

‘Sure, five minutes’ she ran out hurriedly while I return the rest clothes to the bag, I took off the ball gown and wore the black one, I slipped on my shoes and fastened the straps. Cynthia ran in panting. ‘Here’

‘Thanks love’ I took the purse and opened it, I looked inside, there was only a oil foundation, red and black lipstick in here, and a eye-shadow case, I sighed and brought them out

‘I have my powder with me’ Cynthia said sharply, I took it reluctantly, note to self, always carry a backup makeup kit

after wearing black makeup and packing my hair into a messy chignon, I begged Cynthia to leave first while I calm myself down, after I was sure of myself, I walked out of the restroom, my mind thought something, what if he’s there waiting to talk to me and explain

‘Softie’ his voice called weakly, I froze, he is here!

What do I do?

What do I say to him?

Should I be mean or understanding?

AJ what are you going to do?

To be continued

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